Golf fans react to outrageous Tiger Woods 'painkillers' comment at The Open

Golf fans have slammed commentator Mark Roe for 'unprofessional' comments about Tiger Woods during the first round of The Open at Royal Troon.

Roe, who is commentating on the featured groups coverage at The Open this week, made his feelings be known about Woods while he was heading down the par-5 4th with playing partners Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele.

He said after seeing Woods' eyes, he thought he was 'on a lot of painkillers'. 

Mark Roe ripped on social media after Tiger Woods comments

Woods, 48, is competing in just his fifth tournament of the season at the 152nd Open Championship in Scotland. 

The 15-time major champion's playing schedule has been heavily limited in 2024 as a result of undergoing ankle surgery last year. 

That came two years after he nearly died in a car crash in Los Angeles.

Everyone is all too aware of Woods' health and fitness battles through the years. 

Prior to ankle surgery, Woods had a series of of back surgeries to help keep his game on track on the PGA Tour. 

It's why Woods' memorable 2019 Masters triumph, the last of his current 15 major titles, was such an incredible achievement. 

But back to the top of the story, and a large number of golf fans have been left disappointed by Roe's comments about Woods during first round featured groups coverage at The Open. 

Many consider Roe overstepped the mark.

"You look at the eyes," said Roe. 

"You gotta think there's a lot of painkillers being taken to cope with the pain, you know?"

Here's the clip for you: 

Here's how a number of golf fans reacted: 

An absolute crazy thing to say on air

Extremely unprofessional

That's a really bad take speculating on medical care is not his job

You don’t say that on air

Extremely odd and unprofessional

I'm not a big fan of Tiger, but even if it's true, there are just things that need not be said

Pathetic and unprofessional

Woods is currently still on the course in the first round of The Open Championship.

The three-time Open champion started brightly with a birdie at the 3rd.

But things went rapidly downhill from there with a bogey at the 4th followed by a double at the 5th and further bogeys at the 7th and 8th.

Woods has just gone out in 4-over 40. 

The lead stands at 3-under par. 

Earlier in the week, Woods responded to Colin Montgomerie's suggestion that he should retire from the sport.

Woods firmly put Monty in his place. 

Keep up to speed with live scores and updates from the first round of The Open.

Who is Mark Roe?

Roe, 61, is a former European Tour pro who is best remembered for a scorecard error when in third-round contention at the 2003 Open Championship at Royal St George's. 

He and his playing partner, Jesper Parnevik, failed to swap their scorecards before the round, meaning they both ended up signing for wrong scores and were consequently disqualified from The Open.

Roe now works as short game coach and commentates for Sky Sports Golf.